Law / Policy – globaldisabilityrightsnow

Focus Countries

USICD: White Paper on Stakeholders’ Understanding and Monitoring of CRPD Article 32

A recently published White Paper by the U.S. International Council on Disabilities (USICD) on Stakeholders’ Understanding and Monitoring of the Implementation of CRPD Article 32, provides important recommendations to better hold international agencies and States accountable to making international cooperation initiatives and programs both inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities. Article 32 of the… Continue reading USICD: White Paper on Stakeholders’ Understanding and Monitoring of CRPD Article 32

Individuals with Mental Health, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the Criminal Justice System

A number of organizations and institutions in the United States have recognized that people with “invisible disabilities,” such as developmental or mental health disabilities, often face particular barriers when they encounter the criminal justice system. For example, a position statement published by The Arc of the United States says, “People with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities… Continue reading Individuals with Mental Health, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the Criminal Justice System

Building Disability Rights through Inclusive Constitutions

An Inclusive Process A variety of processes can be used to draft a constitution. Drafts may be put together by an elected group or proposed by a group selected by the government. While drafting a constitution, a government or other drafting body may convene meetings with civil society. These meetings or workshops are participatory processes which include… Continue reading Building Disability Rights through Inclusive Constitutions

Justicia y derechos humanos: Un feliz encuentro con Freddy en noche buena

Setting up a Legal Clinic for People with Disabilities

Most people with disabilities and most families with children with disabilities around the world, including in the United States, do not have access to legal advice from trained lawyers about disability-related matters. This is for several reasons: For example, people with disabilities and their families generally do not have a lot of money, and there… Continue reading Setting up a Legal Clinic for People with Disabilities

Acceso a la justicia es tarea urgente

Increasing Access to Justice for People with Disabilities

Access to justice is the equal ability to fully be heard and to participate in all aspects of the justice system in your country without discrimination on the basis of disability. Discrimination includes bad treatment on the basis of prejudice and stereotypes about disability (for example, that people with mental health disabilities are prone to commit… Continue reading Increasing Access to Justice for People with Disabilities

Cómo se ganó el primer caso guatemalteco de los derechos de las personas con discapacidad

Los derechos de las personas con discapacidad en Guatemala representan una asignatura pendiente, tanto para el Organismo Ejecutivo (encargado de la administración pública) como para el Congreso de la República (desde su función legislativa), lo anterior dado que la corriente de equiparación en derechos humanos de las personas con discapacidad en su legislación vigente aún… Continue reading Cómo se ganó el primer caso guatemalteco de los derechos de las personas con discapacidad

Developing a Certification Process for Sign Language Interpreters

Interpreter legislation in the United States is determined mostly at the state level and can vary greatly among the country’s fifty states. Perhaps the one national regulation is that court interpreters must meet standards established by the United States courts. Here are a few actions you can take to ensure that people who are Deaf will have access to… Continue reading Developing a Certification Process for Sign Language Interpreters

Utilizing Quotas to Increase Political Participation of Persons with Disabilities

Political participation is an important way for people with disabilities to integrate with the community and to advocate for greater accessibility. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) upholds the right of people with disabilities to vote and to run for office, yet, in many countries, there are few people with disabilities… Continue reading Utilizing Quotas to Increase Political Participation of Persons with Disabilities